On what he’s seen from him wide receivers: “I think for the most part we’ve thrown the ball better in this camp. We’ve got to eliminate some drops, but we’re making progress in that direction. Our young wide receivers are getting open. Now at times we’ve got to finish some plays.”
On Logan Thomas : “I think he started out a little slow in the first couple of days. I’m really happy with where he’s going and where he’s going to be. I think the guy has all the intangibles, he’s got all the physical traits, he’s become extremely aggressive, he’s being decisive. At the end of the day if you’re aggressive, decisive, you know what to do, you’re an older guy…like Coach Beamer said earlier, this is his team. We need him to do all the things that he needs to do. It doesn’t mean he needs to be Superman. When you try to be Superman, you press and mistakes occur because you’re pressing. He needs to do his job, and that’s what we’re focusing on. I thought in practices four and five I saw exactly what I envisioned him being and where he’s going to go.”
On having unsettled positions: “I think you’d always love to have that veteran group coming back. At some positions we do have that, and at others we don’t. I think as a coach, as an offensive staff, I think it’s really, really challenging and really fun. We get to take some guys at certain positions and mold them and get them to where they need to be. Is it going to happen overnight? No. Do we want it to happen overnight? Yes. It’s going to be a process with some guys, and that’s why it’s really important that our older guys who have been there and done it to play well.”
On Deon Newsome getting a lot of reps recently: “Newsome is a very good young player. We’re giving everyone reps right now at that position. I don’t know that we can just single out him. He’s getting a lot of snaps, but they’re all getting a lot of snaps. So to single him out right now, I don’t know if that’s fair. But he’s having a good camp.”
On whether anything has surprised him about Logan Thomas based on how he felt when he first met Thomas: “No, I wish to goodness that I could coach him for the rest of my career to say the least. I love being around him. He’s competitive. I think his leadership is really, really improved. I really, really enjoy working with him. He’s fun in the meeting rooms, he knows when it’s business. He also has a great personality to settle me down at times [laughs]. I absolutely enjoy working with him. He’s a delight.”
On Carlis Parker at wide receiver: “Carlis, if you watched his high school tape, you saw the athleticism, you saw the explosion. He’s tall, 6-3, a little under 200. He’s a guy that’s very, very raw. He’s a guy that needs a bunch of reps. The more he gets in there, the better he’s going to be. We expect him to develop over the next couple of weeks, and to continue to develop during the season. I enjoy being around him also. He’s a competitive guy.”
On how VT compares to the SEC programs: “I’ve only been here for eight months, and I was only in the SEC for two years at Florida and a year at Auburn. I’ve spent the majority of my life in the Big Ten. The way that I look at the Virginia Tech job is the way that I’ve always looked at Virginia Tech from an outsider looking in. It’s one of the best programs in America. What this place has done over the years is remarkable. Anytime you win 10 ballgames for eight straight years…nobody in the country has done that. Alabama hasn’t done that, Georgia hasn’t done that, Michigan, Ohio State, etc., etc…USC. Anytime that you do what they’ve done here, it’s one of the best programs in the country. They graduate people, they care about people, they do things the right way, and they win. For Coach Beamer and the rest of this staff to do what they’ve done over the 20-some odd years that Coach has been here, it’s remarkable. The way that I look at it is that it’s an absolute privilege and an honor, and I feel extremely responsible to help that continue.”
On whether it’s easier to play as a true freshman as a receiver: “Coach Beamer has always said this, and the numerous head coaches that I’ve worked for have said this: the farther you get away from the ball, the more chance a young guy has to play. You don’t see too many freshmen starting quarterbacks, that’s why you don’t see too many freshmen starting centers, and linebackers. The farther you get away from the football, your job description becomes somewhat easier. I’m not going to discredit and say a wide receiver position is easy, because it’s not. You see more receivers and young DB’s play than you do quarterbacks, linebackers, etc.”
Print
Met him several times. If he stays at VT, he’s a legit HC candidate to replace Beamer….and I came in cynical (no hyperbole).
He’s that impressive in terms of dealing with alums, media, and recruiting.
I also think he’s got something to prove after the Auburn debacle.
Great hire for VT.
He and Grimes have inherited a mess of an OL (Curt Newsome is a train wreck in EVERY way) — and that will make for an unfair eval of both of them this year. That said, I fully expect the offensive play calling and prep to be head and shoulders above where it’s been the last few seasons — and that my friends is what you call…PROGRESS.
Scot Loeffler sounds better every time I read about his interviews. Hope I am not getting expectations to high. I cannot help but think that Coach Beamer could not have done better with the people he hired for the offense.
He has been here 8 months. Seems like it was yesterday.
Thanks CC, sounds like the team is making progress but a good distance to go. Coach sounds like the staff is working hard to get all the players on the same page. IMO this goes a long way toward developing a team (BEING ON THE SAME PAGE).
I would like to see Lefty refer to the VT staff and program as “We” vice “They” when asked to compare VT with SEC. He’s a Hokie now. He’s part of the family regardless of the past. Otherwise, we are dang lucky to have him and his O staff! I like how these guys talk and carry themselves. I think the future will get brighter.
I think the “they” was because he was referring past tense to what has occurred over the last 20 years. He wasn’t a part of that, and in fact mentioned he felt a responsibility now to continue the tradition.
It made sense to use 3rd-person pronouns for his response, because the question asked for the perspective of an outsider who was not present for the run of Virginia Tech’s success.
His use of the word “they” is entirely appropriate based on the perspective of he question asked. Do you doubt Loeffler’s commtment to the Tech program. Geesh!
He gives very direct answers, unless he doesn’t!
Great stuff, Chris. The more I hear and read about Loeffler the more impressed I am. It’s obvious that he sure does love LT.
Debord, that’s the way I see him. I hope his future is bright at VT for Him& VT.